Device for overcoming dead-centers.



W. H. WALKER & A. L. KICHLINE.

DEVICE FOR OVERGOMING DEAD CENTERS. APPLICATION TILED MAY 20, 1012.

1,125,225, Patented Jan. 19,1915.

UNITED TATE PATENT @FFfQE.

WILLIAM H. WALKER AND ALBERT L. KICHLINE, OF DOVER, DELAWARE.

DEVICE FOR OVERCOMING DEAD-CENTERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 19, 1915.

Application filed May 20, 1912. Serial No. 698,653.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, WILLIAM H. lVALKnR and ALBERT L. KICHLINE, citizens of the United States, residing at Dover, in the county of Kent and State of Delaware, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices for Overcoming Dead-Centers, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to an improvement in devices for overcoming dead centers, and the object of the present invention is the provision of a simple and efficient device of this character which is capable of use in connection with the fly wheel of an engine so that said fly wheel may be turned a sutlicient distance to throw the crank of the engine off the dead center. I

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character which is in the form of a portable jack which may be readily transferred from place to place and is so constructed that it may be used in connection with fly wheels of the ordinary construction.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character which is provided with means for engaging the rim of a fly wheel of an engine, such means being so constructed that it is unnecessary to use any securing means for attaching it to the fly wheel.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the detailed description hereinafter when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof, wherein a convenient embodiment of the invention is shown and wherein like characters of reference refer to similar parts in the several views.

1n the drawings: Figure l is a side elevation of the device showing the manner of using the same with the fly wheel of an engine; Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the portion of the device which is fashioned for engagement with the rim of the engine fiy wheel; Fig. 3 is a cross section on line 33 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a detail view of the rim engaging member and the stop which is provided therefor.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, A designates a supporting base which serves to support all of the parts of the device and which may beof any desired or well known construction.

Extending upwardly from the supporting base A is a standard B and pivotally connected to the upper portion of said standard intermediate the ends thereof is a lever C, the pivotal point of said lever being so disposed that the lever is provided with a short arm and a long arm, the latter constituting the handle for actuating the device. Pivotally connected to the short arm of the lever C and depending therefrom is a link D. Pivotally connected at one end to the lower end of the link D is a member E which is provided with means fashioned to engage one edge of the rim of a fly wheel of the engine so that by actuating the lever C, said fly wheel may be shifted a sufficient extent to move the crank of the engine off the dead center. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated, the member E comprises a plate which is adapted to lie alongside of the rim of the fly wheel to be shifted and from the inner face of which projects two separated rim engaging members which are adapted to lie alongside of the inner and outer surfaces of the rim of the fly wheel to be shifted, so that as the long arm of the lever C is depressed, the member E will be tilted a suflicient distance to cause the separated rim engaging members to be brought into biting engagement with the opposite surfaces of the rim of the fly wheel to be shifted, so that as the long arm of the lever is further depressed, the fly wheel will be shifted. In the particular embodiment of the invention illustrated, the member E is provided with a fixed rim engaging member 6 which projects from the inner side thereof and is adapted to overlie the outer surface of the rim of the fly wheel to be shifted and with a pivoted rim engaging member 0 which is secured to the inner face thereof and is spaced from the fixed rim engaging member 6. The pivoted rim engaging member 6 is provided with a roughened cam face 6 and said member is so pivoted that it has a limited pivotal action onl Iii order to render the device capable of use in connection with fly wheels having rims of varying thicknesses, the pivotal rim engaging member e is preferably so secured to the member E that it may be adjusted relatively to the fixed rim engaging member 6. To this end the member E is provided with a longitudinally disposed slot 6 therein and the pivoted rim engaging member 6 is supported upon a pivot pin 6 which projects through said slot and is adj ustably secured therein by means of a suitable securing nut threaded upon the outer end thereof.

To prevent any accidental rearward movement of the pivoted rim engaging member during the operation of the device, the member E is provided with a portion 6 projecting laterally from the inner surface thereof and positioned in rear of the pivoted rim engaging member 6. Threaded in said laterally projecting portion 6 is a screw 6 which may be adjusted to lie directly in rear of the pivoted rim engaging member 6 so as to constitute a stop to prevent movement thereof even should its pivot bolt become loose in the slot 6 A suitable lock nut is provided for holding the screw 6 in any desired position of adjustment.

In using the device the pivoted rim engaging member e is so adjusted relative to the fixed rim engaging member 6 that the rim of the fly wheel to be shifted may be introduced between said rim engaging members when the pivoted engaging member is elevated to its limit of movement. With the parts in this position if the long arm of the lever is depressed, the member E will be first tilted a sufficient extent to cause the rim engaging members to engage the rim of the fly wheel with a biting action and the fly wheel will be shifted as the long arm of the lever is further depressed. As the long arm of the lever C is elevated, the member E will slip downwardly on the rim of the fly wheel so that by reciprocating the long arm of the lever C the fly wheel may be turned to any desired extent.

While a convenient embodiment'of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it will be understood that many changes may be made to the particular form and construction therein shown without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

o claim 1. In a device of the character described, a plate adapted to lie alongside the rim of a fly wheel, said plate being provided with a longitudinal slot therein, a fixed rim engaging member projecting laterally from said plate and adapted to overlie one surface of the rim of the fly Wheel, a pivot pin adjustably secured in the slot in said plate, a rim engaging member pivotally sup ported on said pivot pin and provided with a curved face adapted to engage the other face of the rim when said rim is positioned between said fixed rim engaging member and said pivoted rim engaging member, an adjustable stop carried by said plate and positioned in rear of said pivoted rim engaging member to engage therewith when the plate is shifted and to prevent movement of the pivot pin in the slot in said plate, and means connected to said plate for shifting the same.

2. In a device of the character described, a plate adapted to lie alongside the rim of a fly wheel, said plate being provided with a pair of spaced projections extending laterally therefrom and with a longitudinal slot therein intermediate said projections, one of said projections constituting a fixed rim engaging member, a pivot pin adjustably secured in the longitudinal slot in said plate, a pivoted rim engaging member loosely mounted on said pivoted pin and provided with a curved edge facing the projection which constitutes the fixed rim en gaging member, and a screw threaded in the other projection and positioned directly in rear of the pivoted rim engaging member so as to constitute a stop to limitthe movement of said pivoted rim engaging member in the slot in said plate.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM H. WALKER. ALBERT L. KICHLINE. Witnesses WILLIAM H. DE VVrr'r, EDWIN F. WOOD.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

